A “Modern Family” star who calls Albuquerque home has recently married. He said the gay marriage debate in New Mexico is about civil rights as opposed to religion.

“It’s the right thing,” said Jesse Tyler Ferguson. “It's the right thing. So whether or not you want it -- or not -- it's still the right thing."

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Ferguson came to Albuquerque to promote TieTheKnot.org, which sells bow ties to raise money in support of same-sex marriage.

“Just being able to say, ‘my husband’ or, ‘I'm married’ is just so important,” he said.

Ferguson was married this summer in New York.

"To see New Mexico progress so quickly, it's astonishing to me just because I've lived here for so long and felt like I wasn't being supported by my community,” he said.

Ferguson added he didn’t exactly welcome as a kid or as a teenager, either.

“(After) being bullied in Albuquerque, of course it's redeeming … but it's not in a vindictive sort of way,” he said. "I'm very forgiving of anyone who gave me a hard time growing up. I truly am. I mean, kids are terrible to one another at that age. I don't blame anyone."

Ferguson plays Mitchell Pritchett on the hit ABC show “Modern Family,” which is in its fifth season. The witty comedy has won numerous Emmys throughout its attempt to put a twist on today’s non-traditional American family.

Ferguson, who recently got engaged to his television husband on the show, said actor Eric Stonestreet is almost like a second husband.

“Eric is straight. I say, ‘gay for pay,’” said Ferguson. “But listen, we've gone through such an experience together. He's one of my dearest friends.”

Ferguson said he likes the on-screen engagement, and the show overall, because it portrays what’s actually going on in the U.S., including changes in New Mexico.

"So to see just to see positive movement forward, is, astonishing,” he said. “I'm just really proud of my state. And there's still a lot of work to be done but I think we need to pause and say, good work so far."

Ferguson plans to do more theater and film in the future, but is kept busy by “Modern Family.” He said he and his husband are going to hold off on kids for a bit, though they’d both like kids. He said “neither one of us have uteruses, so it’s more of a process.”